Meramec Trout Water

[hank franklin]

My cousin and I hit the WKW 8 bridge to Scott's Ford run on Friday. We caught more smallmouth than trout. In fact just one trout between us for the trip. I would have rather targeted smallmouth anyway but the law says no soft plastics. So we were flinging cranks and jigs and spoons etc. Caught a pretty smallmouth right at the Maramec Spring entry. Only trout was caught just below Dry Fork. Maybe the eagles are eating them, they were abundant. (The eagles, not the trout.)

Does anybody catch trout on this stretch? Wait, check that, does anyone SEE trout on this stretch? We struggled to even see any. Maybe a couple. I am not a trout guy though I do love that Dry Fork area, and the wildlife viewing and river character through there is gorgeous. But if the trout are so skinny then why not lift the regs and allow poor smallie-seeking guys like me the chance to dance a fluke through those flowing deep holes. It's a crying shame to "manage" for trout if the trout aren't there. The smallmouth we caught were some fighting cowboys. Maybe limit the trout area from spring to Dry Fork and call the rest open season.

Very impressive deer stands on the right bank below Cardiac by the way. Wow. A few guys with some bonus tags could lay waste.

[Matt Tucker]

Have been thinking of dropping my drift boat in there and floating that section a couple of times; but could never get any info on the river before I did it. Assume you floated in a canoe or kayak? Were there any areas you had to portage or walk your craft through. Any input would be appreciated.

--Matt Tucker

[hank franklin]

We floated an Old Town Disco 69. At last Friday flow the river is in excellent shape for floating, maybe a touch high for good wading. We had no issues floating, including below 8 bridge which at lower flow can be a drag-fest. A guy in a pontoon floated through so I imagine a drift boat could do it.

There is a pretty awesome rift right above Cardiac which we walked through. A very big wave and a large tree obstacle right in the middle of it. It is runnable but also risky with a loaded canoe, so we lined through. A few other areas of brushy channels etc. No big deal, just be careful.

River was in excellent shape. Fishing was terrible. Bring your camera, I took lots of pictures, just none of fish.

[Matt Tucker]

Thanks for the reply. I am thinking we will have to check it out very soon.

--Matt Tucker

[stlfisher]

I have fished the Meramec trout water a few times this year and had a little bit of success, but there are not a lot of trout and they can be spaced out a bit. I had most of my luck between Cardiac and Suicide. Best day was probably 10 fish or so for a full day of fishing. The floods the last few years have decreased the population by about 30% from what I have read. Some normal water years may bring it back a bit, but it is tough to have a great day on the water. I think Scott's Ford is at the very end of the of the trout range. As far as floating you can float or wade it from the end of the park down to Suicide and probably further (I haven't been down must past Suicide though). Wade fishing is best around 350 CFS. Floating should be no problem, but after a flood there may some lay downs across some of the narrow stretches...so keep your eyes out. There should be some browns somewhere, but I have never caught one down there.

[Al Agnew]

It is one of the tougher trout streams in MO, but there are trout in it down to at least the big pool below Suicide. You'll find the easiest fishing between the spring and the mouth of Dry Fork, because that section always has a lot of still fairly stupid rainbow escapees from the park. I've had days when I caught 15-20, but it isn't really a good numbers river.